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Patchy Blues Surge Into Semis

Tue 08 Apr, 10:09 PM


Chelsea set up a Champions League semi-final against Liverpool after beating Fenerbahce 2-0 at Stamford Bridge to win their quarter-final 3-2.

Avram Grant's side were beaten 2-1 in Turkey last week but they got themselves back on level terms after just four minutes when Michael Ballack headed home.

The Blues could have been made to pay for a host of missed chances after that but Frank Lampard volleyed home from close range in the dying minutes to ensure a comfortable finish.

Chelsea needed to stamp their authority early at Stamford Bridge and they did so almost immediately when Ballack powerfully headed home Lampard's curling free-kick following a foul on Michael Essien.

Joe Cole struck the upright minutes later and Ballack forced the visiting keeper into action from long range soon after that as the Blues pressed for another but Deivid, who scored at both ends in the first leg, gave them a scare when he headed wide in the box.

Chelsea continued to dominate the play but they suffered another goalkeeping blow in the 26th minute when Carlo Cudicini - again standing in for the injured Petr Cech - was forced off clutching his right hamstring, with Hilario coming off the bench.

And the substitute stopper was nearly picking the ball out of his net before the interval with Diego Lugano heading just wide from an Alex cross.

Drogba saw a shot saved by Volkan Demirel two minutes after the restart as Chelsea sought an outright lead but Fener hung on and appealed in vain for a penalty just after the hour mark when when Gokhan Gonul burst into the box.

Drogba was again denied by a decent save in the 66th minute before the Ivory Coast striker almost set up Joe Cole for a path to goal, with Demirel rushing out of his goal to clear.

The Fener stopper pulled off his best stop yet to keep out Drogba's free-kick but it was Hilario's turn to produce heroics at the other end with nine minutes remaining as he superbly denied Gokhan Gonul and then Colin Kazim-Richards within seconds of each other.

Chelsea then wrapped up the tie with three minutes of normal time remaining when Essien's cross was turned home by Lampard from close range.

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